How Do We Help Our Homeless Veterans?

The media does a poor job of shaping the mindsets of our average citizens and that is OUR fault (Veterans and active duty). We are about Selfless Service, which means we don't do things for the glory, we do it because it is the right thing to do. We, along with many other great citizens, are unsung heroes. It is our duty, however, to raise the consciousness of our would-be supporters by helping them see the truth. The importance of a balanced report is not the focus of any news reporter. It is to sell advertising. They NEED people to hear their stories so they can attract advertising dollars and to do that, they look for interesting or outlandish stories that they can tell in the most heart-wrenching, angering, and inculcating way.

The ONLY way we are going to take back the public's support for our Veterans, rather than their pity, is to tell the stories of the amazing efforts of those heroes out there that are going to get ZERO credit for their selfless work, happening in the shadows everyday.

We have to become storytellers ourselves. We have to fight fire with fire. For every story about some Soldier who, tragically kills himself and takes his family with him, we need to tell the story of a Veteran who was rescued from the jaws of despair and turned their life around to become a pillar of discipline and hard work in their community. They are out there! The problem is we think that nobody wants to hear about it or we are too embarrassed to admit that we once considered committing suicide.

I have made it my mission in Upstate SC to tell my story and to tell the story of those that will let me so we can shape the media presence in our community and shape the way our community thinks about Veterans.

We think of ourselves as different than civilians, but, at our core, we are not. We are people who want to be accepted and understood. We are hurting, but resilient. We are not so very different and when we find ways to demonstrate how much alike we are, we will gain the respect of our nation as they see how ordinary people answered the call to do extraordinary things.

There are three homeless veterans who I usually see panhandling in my dinky little town outside Atlanta. After spending about fifteen minutes having friendly conversations to sort of unofficially vet whether or not they're playing the homeless veteran card, I have bought them food (I never donate money directly). I have brought them blankets, socks, and I purchased three woobies from a surplus store. I have referred them to the local American Legion post, given each of them a business card for a personal friend who works for the VA in Marietta and urged them to call him, and I have asked other friends, specifically a very kind-hearted Methodist minister and then a local police officer, to check on them when the temperatures drop or see if some sort of housing can be found.

If our government can't dislodge its head from its fourth point of contact enough to help the people they willingly send off to fight wars, I can at least make sure I'm watching someone else's six.

There's a place outside of DC called McVet. Start by making a financial contribution then look at volunteering sometime. McVet.org they have a formula that works.

i got one way:
https://youtu.be/qlijB6G392Q

watch that.

As we meet them, wer try to find places for them

The VA has established a program to help homeless veterans. Unfortunately the ones that are homeless not all but some were discharged other than honorably. There is a lot of good volunteer nonprofit organization that help veterans. It's sad really .

Our VFW has a dedicated officer that works homeless vet outreach and we have a fund to supply emergency food and shelter.

1. Start by giving ALL Veterans the same exact benefits that people in Congress get.

2. Stop helping all the illegals when our own aren't even being helped.

3. Every swinging nut inside the VA needs to be a Veteran.

4. Make the process easier for Vets to get the medical treatment they need.

I read a story recently where a WWII vet had the hardest, longest time to get benefits. At the age of 91, I think he was finally approved where he could move into this retirement home and then he died a couple years later. That's just shameful!! Gulf War Vets are still suffering and having a hard time trying to get benefits they deserve!

https://www.mac-v.org/

MAC-V is doing and impressive job in Minnesota helping our Veterans and working with community partners.

Well for one we could start by stop sending charity abroad!! Charity begins at home! How is it that we have money for wars but we cannot feed our homeless Veterans (some of which has served in some or most of these wars)?

Should we be sending money to those who aren't Americans before we take care of our own?? When Servicemembers/Veterans are in the Transitional state of leaving the Service there should be a checklist that ensures that each member states what their plans are when they leave the military and what their financial situation is upon leaving it.

If we are to truly take care one of our own then we have to do this prior to them leaving the Service and not waiting until it become a problem after they leave. One thing being in the Army has taught me (my great Leaders) is to take initiative and be proactive rather than reactive.

An ounce of "prevention" is worth a pound of cure!! That checklist I mentioned earlier should address programs designed to help those of us who are transitioning so that we leave from this profession and walk right into another or into career training programs that insure our skills and leadership are best served by being a part of our communities.

Provide career training.
Provide financial assistance.
Provide a network of employers seeking servicemembers

Take monies that would normally be sent abroad/overseas to help other countries and place it into an Interest Bearing Account that accumulates for Veterans so that when we ask for assistance it is readily available and still continues to grow even when we are using it.

My long two cents, lol. God bless all my fellow Servicemembers.